This study was published in Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral y Cirugia Bucal 2008 Feb 1;13(2):E98-101
Study title and authors:
Adverse side effects of statins in the oral cavity.
Pascual Cruz M, Chimenos Küstner E, García Vicente JA, Mezquiriz Ferrero X, Borrell Thio E, López López J.
Médico estomatólogo, ABS (Area Básica de Salud) Sant Roc Badalona, Facultad de Medicina UAB, Spain. 20673mpc@comb.es
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18223537
The objective of the study was to analyze the side effects of statins in the mouth cavity, and to analyze the symptoms after interruption of the treatment. The study included 26 patients aged 50-70 undergoing treatment with statins.
Patients were initially assessed for side effects of statins in the mouth cavity, statin treatment was then discontinued for two weeks and the patients response was observed.
The study found:
(a) Of those patients with dryness, 73.9% showed improvement after discontinuing statins for two weeks.
(b) Of those patients with itch, 86.7% showed improvement or had complete recovery after discontinuing statins for two weeks.
(c) Of those patients with bitterness, 92.8% had complete recovery after discontinuing statins for two weeks.
(d) Of those patients with a cough, 91.7% showed improvement after discontinuing statins for two weeks.
(e) Additionally, of those patients who had insomnia, 94.1% showed improvement after discontinuing statins for two weeks.
This study shows that there is a marked improvement of mouth cavity ailments after statin treatment is discontinued.
